The Houston Food Finder Guide To Holiday Merriment

It’s the holidays, which means a ton of festive events are happening all around Houston. We’ll be updating this guide through the end of the year, so you might want to just bookmark this or set it as your browser startup page to keep up with the latest. More to come!

If you’d like your event considered for inclusion in this guide, please email us.

Last updated 11/27/16, 9:01 a.m.

Sunday, November 27

Whiskey & Knives Pop-Up At Public Services

This event at Public Services Wine & Whisky sounds like a great way to both get some down time and get some holiday shopping out of the way, too. It features a pop-up shop from Jessica Maher and Todd Duplechan of Lenoir in Austin and will showcase Japanese, French and domestic knives from their retail store, Métier. There’ll also be knife bags, aprons, cookbooks, vintage barware and more. The event runs from 3 to 6 p.m. and includes deals on whiskey cocktails, rare selections being opened and things to munch on. Public Services Wine & Whisky is at 202 Travis in the historic Cotton Exchange building in downtown Houston.

Monday, November 28

“Just Cuc It” Pop-Up Dinner at Moving Sidewalk

Cocktail bar Moving Sidewalk at 306 Main in downtown Houston occasionally hosts pop-up dinners featuring local chefs. This time, Cuc Lam of Just Cuc It (who is also a freelance food writer for the Houston Press) is providing Southeast Asian-inspired noshes. Dinner is three courses for $25 and choices include Rocket Shrimp Rolls and Vietnamese Lemongrass Beef Stew. There’s Cafe Sua Da (Vietnamese Iced Coffee) infused panna cotta for dessert. Food will be served from 7 p.m. until 11 p.m.—or until sold out, whichever comes first.

Pink Fizz! Learn About Sparkling Rosé From Bear Dalton

Act very quickly on this if interested. Last we heard, there were only eight spots left. Join Spec’s fine wine buyer, Bear Dalton, and taste through more than a dozen sparkling rosés, several of which will be pink Champagnes. The wines will be served in top-notch Riedel Degustazione stemware along with an assortment of cheese and bread. The class is at L’Alliance Française at 427 Lovett. Pay with cash or check and it’s only $70. (You can pay by credit card, too, but it will cost a few more bucks.) Check out full details and instructions on how to make a reservation online.

For only $20, be one of the first to try WhistlePig’s whiskey aged in Muscat wine barrels bottled especially for Reserve 101. Best of all 100-percent of the proceeds benefit the Rescued Pets Movement. Master distiller Dave Pickerell will be on hand to discuss the new whiskey and answer questions. Buy tickets online.

Saturday, December 3

Brunch With Santa at Brennan’s of Houston

Get the kids up and dressed on Saturday morning and head to Brennan’s of Houston at 3300 Smith. Get a family photo taken with Santa, receive a keepsake ornament and enjoy a two-course lunch plus a holiday dessert buffet by chef Danny Trace and staff. Adults get a free mimosa with brunch and that seems like a fine reward for being such a cool parent. Course selections for the grownups include Texas Redfish “On the Half Shell” and Creole Roasted Chicken while kids aged two to 12 can enjoy Cajun Santa’s Mac and Cheese, Mrs. Claus’s Fried Chicken and more. The event is from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Reservations are required; call (713) 522-9711 to make one.

Along with entertainment, activities for the kids and plenty of food, the YUMMY! Wonderland at Phoenicia Specialty Foods will also feature handmade goods ideal for holiday gifts.

YUMMY! Wonderland at Phoenicia Specialty Market Downtown

From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Phoenicia Specialty Market at 1001 Austin Street is hosting its annual multicultural holiday festival. There’s literally something for everyone. There will be dancers, crafts for the kids, samples of fare from all over the world and Mediterranean- and Middle Eastern-inspired brunch dishes. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be on-hand to take photos with kids and grownups alike. There’s an adjacent garage so parking is convenient and free. There’s also plenty of street parking nearby, just in case the garage gets full. Phoenicia Specialty Foods is a Houston Food Finder sponsor (and without our sponsors we would not exist), so please show your support for them and for us by joining in the fun. Read our full article about the event for more details. Space is limited so be sure to make a reservation online!

Chef Adison Lee’s Japanese fare is the antidote to heavy holiday party food. Trust us on this.

Sunday, December 4

Sunday Supper With My Table and Houston Food Finder at KUU

We are really excited to co-host what we hope will be the first in a series of Sunday Suppers with our friends at My Table. The first one will be at KUU, located in the Gateway Memorial center at 947 Gessner just across from Memorial City Mall. Dinner is early—it starts at 5 p.m. to enable everyone to get in, get fed and get home in time to prepare for the workweek. The prix fixe menu features six courses for $65 selected especially for our readers by chef Adison Lee. Operations manager and sommelier Ricky Cheung will select optional wine pairings for $35 from the Wine Spectator award-winning list. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet editors/publishers Teresa Byrne-Dodge of My Table and Phaedra Cook of Houston Food Finder. Call KUU at (713) 461-1688 to make reservations. Ask for the My Table/Houston Food Finder dinner and please state if you are not willing to eat sushi made with raw fish. There’s a free parking garage onsite.

Celebrity chef Ming Tsai is stopping in Houston as part of the Macy’s Culinary Council series.

Monday, December 5

Ming Tsai Demo and Book Signing At Macy’s In The Galleria

Part of the Macy’s Culinary Council Series, celebrity chef Ming Tsai will demonstrate cooking tips and share stories with attendees on this stop in Houston. Small bites and sips will be served and attendees who spend $35 in the home department that day get a sweet deal: a copy of Simply Ming, which the chef will sign immediately after the event. Call 1-877-556-2297 to RSVP and also get a $10 Macy’s gift card and preferred seating. The fun starts at 6 p.m. at 5135 W. Alabama in the Holiday Pop Up Kitchen inside Macy’s on Level 2.

Thursday, December 8

Guest Chef Night At Glitter Karaoke

Victor Santiago, sous chef of Brennan’s of Houston, is serving dinner at the popular Midtown karaoke spot starting at 2621 Milam starting at 8 p.m. Glitter Karaoke is open until 2 a.m.; food will be available until sold out. The Creole fusion menu includes Tempura Boudin Balls, Shrimp Creole Tostones (twice-fried plantain slices), and short rib sandwiches. If you’re interested in attending, check out the event page on Facebook.